EA Sports Launches PGA Tour Golf Challenge On Facebook

EA Sports announced the launch of PGA Tour Golf Challenge, a Unity3D-based, free-to-play version of its long-running golf game franchise that's been tailored for casual audiences, on Facebook. PGA Tour Golf Challenge is the third title based on an EA Sports franchise to release on the social network, following FIFA Superstars and Madden NFL Superstars. FIFA Superstars has almost 3.4 million monthly active users, while Madden NFL Superstars has 1.7 million players -- audiences for both shrank considerably in recent months. Developed by EA Sports Tiburon, PGA Tour Golf Challenge boasts features designed with accessibility in mind, such as one-click swinging, support for mouse and keyboard aiming, and different shot types. Users can play on and unlock famous courses like Pebble Beach Golf Links, St. Andrews, TPC Sawgrass, Wolf Creek, and others. The online 3D game also offers an XP system for leveling golfers (this unlocks new courses and items in the in-game Pro Shop), daily three-hole challenges that users can compete in against their friends, various gameplay modes, and microtransactions that customize avatars and "accelerate a player’s career".  PGA Tour Golf Challenge is noticeably missing the Tiger Woods license featured in nearly all of EA Sports' PGA Tour releases since 1998. Though upcoming multi-platform game Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: Masters bears the name of the famous albeit scandal-wracked golfer, for the first time it does not feature his likeness on the game's standard packaging.